According to the International Iran Stone Exhibition, small and medium-sized mines are often vulnerable because they do not use public and government resources, and sometimes with any event that upsets the market balance, such as sanctions restrictions, exchange rate fluctuations and market fluctuations. They have a crisis.

Experts believe that all government policies are in the interests of large mines, and this has led to the neglect of small mines. Thus, they believe that the most important problem in mines and small and medium-sized mining enterprises is the lack of government support for them. Most small mines face the problem of financing and the inability to use new technologies in various sectors of exploration, extraction and processing.

These mines require huge expenditures for development and growth, which they are unable to afford and cannot afford. Another issue is the old tools that have plagued small miners. Samat newspaper talked to experts about the problem of small mines and what problems there are for their development in the country, which you can read below.

Production problems

Hossein Hosseinizadeh, a member of the board of directors of the Khorasan Razavi Association of Mines and Mining Industries, said: "According to the latest statistics, more than 95% of the country's mines are small mines, which shows the importance of these mines and their impact on economic growth."

Referring to the role of small and medium mines in employment growth in the country, a member of the board of directors of the Khorasan Razavi Mines and Mining Industries Association said: "The number of small mines is high and these mines are scattered in different parts of the country;" In other words, 95% of the country's mines are small mines and only 5% of the country's mines are large mines. Given this, one of the mistakes that policymakers have made is paying too much attention to the development of large mines.

Hosseinizadeh, referring to the widespread problems in the production sector, stated: In our country, there are many problems in the production sector. Mining is also one of the production sectors that face limitations due to economic problems and is no exception to this area.

A little that can not be heard

A member of the board of directors of the Khorasan Razavi Association of Mines and Mining Industries, referring to the facilities provided for large mines, stated: Large mines often have more financial and technical facilities than small mines and have been able to communicate more easily with officials. To dissolve themselves, while small mines do not enjoy this advantage and for a small reason, their voice is not heard.

He stressed: "Although the importance of large mines is not hidden from anyone, but it must be said that small mines can also play the role of large mines in a smaller format." Small mines account for a significant amount of the country's mines, and little attention is paid to the overall state of the country's mines.

Small mines require a written plan

Hosseinizadeh, referring to the measures taken to activate small mines in the country, clarified: The plan to rehabilitate small mines has been key for about 3 years. Several large institutions, including the Mining Investment Insurance Fund, tried to support small mines as part of the scheme. Meetings were held in this regard, which was promising.

He stressed: "If we have a written plan to support small mines and study their problems, we can see their prosperity in the near future."

Rural employment growth

A member of the board of directors of the Khorasan Razavi Association of Mines and Mining Industries pointed to the rural employment plan and the importance of small mines' prosperity and said: "Since most small mines are scattered and located next to different villages, plans were approved by the government. He referred to the rural employment plan. This plan could prevent migration from the countryside to the city and establish a close relationship between the villagers and the exploiters.

He said: "It is economical and logical for the mining forces to be recruited and employed from the neighboring villages."

The role of mineral formations

Referring to the importance and role of mining organizations, Hosseinizadeh stated: "Small mines do not have the necessary power to maneuver in the country and have a weak investment capacity." In this way, if a problem arises for them, they alone will not be able to solve it. In this regard, the role of mining organizations and selected private sector is key. They can be the voice of small miners and bring their general problems to the attention of the authorities.

A member of the board of directors of the Specialized Association of Mines and Mining Industries of Khorasan Razavi continued: Large mines have higher productivity and more knowledge. They have the financial capacity to train their personnel and help upgrade their manpower, while small mines do not have such capacities; Therefore, the role of organizations, the private sector and the cooperation of the Provincial Industry, Mining and Trade Organization can pave the way for small mines.

Economic problems of small mines

Sayed Abdul Wahab Sahlabadi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Isfahan House of Industry and Mines, said that small mines are economically weak and have little financial power. "Unfortunately, most small mines have economic problems and cannot use modern equipment and technologies," he said. For this reason, this sector has not been able to contribute to the growth of the country's economy as it should.

Referring to the weakness of providing facilities to these mines in the country, he said: "Considering that banks do not accept mining licenses as collateral, it can be said that not many facilities have been provided for small mines."

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Isfahan House of Industry and Mines, pointing out that the purchase of mining machinery including loaders, bulldozers and excavators is one of the serious problems in the prosperity of small mines, said: And it has become extremely difficult for miners and miners to procure mining machinery, while the miner cannot operate well with worn-out machinery, each of which has been in operation for about 40 years.

He continued: "One of the proposed ways was for importers of second-hand machinery to enter the country, which of course had its own problems and limitations.

Annoying regulations and directives

Sahlabadi further referred to the bylaws and circulars of various complexes related to the mining sector, including the High Council of Mines, and said: "Sometimes, if one day has passed from the date of the exploitation license, the relevant centers do not renew it immediately and easily prevent serious problems." Mineral activists create. Sometimes the environment creates obstacles; In this way, if the exploiter is even one meter out of his privacy, many problems will be created for him, so that sometimes the story is taken to prison.

Mines that have been oppressed

The chairman of the board of directors of Isfahan Province House of Industry and Mines, stating that small mines in Iran are very oppressed, referred to their situation in other countries and said: "Many countries attach more importance to the activity of small and medium mines than Iran."

He pointed to the strengths of small mines: Although small mines can increase employment and play an important role in the country's economic turnover, it can be said that they have been neglected in Iran.

Referring to the role of these mines in the country's economy, Sahlabadi said: "Small mines can play a positive role in production." Since these mines are not involved in the confinement of large mines and have less waste, the operator can produce efficiently; Focusing on small mines also increases foreign exchange earnings.

In the end, the chairman of the board of directors of Isfahan Province House of Industry and Mines, as a solution to the problems of small mines, said: "It is true that the currency has become more expensive and small mines have faced problems, but small mines have had problems before." The problems of small mines have not been formed recently and the government must intervene in any way possible to solve them.

The final word ...

Since small mines make up 95% of the country's mines, they can provide a lot of currency and employment for the country, while mining activists believe that small mines have been neglected by the government and have little power to move. The need for government support, the acceptance of their operating licenses by banks as collateral, the support of private sector organizations and activists, and a well-codified plan are some of the things that can help small mining businesses flourish.